The artwork is created by designer Elizabeth E. Schuch, working with local artisans in the UK and Society6 in the USA to produce gifts. Elizabeth has worked with Shakespeare's Globe, The Metropolitan Opera, The Seattle Opera, The Royal National Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, and other venues around the world to create illustrations based in the world of drama.

Tudor Portraits

Monday, 11 May 2009

Gallery Addictions

Paintings that knocked my socks off in person.

Everyone's got heroes, and in the world of art, there's a few pieces I have the urge seek out repeatedly to admire. It occurs to me that I'm not heading to a museum to wander, but I'll want to go visit the Ophelia painting specifically.

So, here's a shortlist of my favorite paintings that I've seen and that really stuck in my mind. Ones I'd visit again in a heartbeat.

1. John William WaterhouseLady of ShallotThe detail, especially the lantern, her horrible resigned and fearful expression. It's beautiful, it's creepy. I love it.

2. Rene MagritteEmpire of Light

I made a giant copy of this one in scenic painting class, just to have one of my own. Probably the most soothing surrealist painting ever created. It sits in that mysterious region between night and half-light evening- even if the sky is technically a bright blue day.There was a version of this one in Brussels, and another in the Guggenheim in Venice, and both times I couldn't recall anything else in the room.

3. John Singer Sargent

I can't pick.His paintings are intriguing in person- the paint strokes up close are light and loose, even sloppy looking; but from across the room- he gets the perfect porcelain glow on pottery and stunning subtle light that you'll swear is real.

So, for drama: Madame XFor light: Carnation, Lily, Lily, RoseAnd for the vases:The Daughters of Edward Darley BoitThere was a great exhibit at the National Gallery called Americans in Paris, where I saw these in person, and was astounded. And the one with the lanterns is at the Tate Britain.

4. Gustave CaillebotteParis Street, Rainy DayAt the Chicago Art Institute: This rainy day on giant canvas would make me get on the El in the snow. The color tone of the buildings, that grey light, it puts you there instantly. It transports you without jetlag and an umbrella, which is always nice.

5. Edmund DulacPrincess and the PeaAdmittedly, I've not seen this in person- but I do have a print in a book. The low angle view, the brightly coloured duvets, it's fantastic. In fact, I would love to recreate the whole room some time, just to nap there.

6.Sir John Everett Millais OpheliaRumor is the model caught a terrible cold from posing for this in a bathtub. I'm of the opinion it was worth it. The way the hair and dress play in the water is incredibly done, and it's got the perfect blend of beauty and serenity and tragedy that Gertrude describes in the scene.

Now, I've left Mucha off the list, because I couldn't choose. I would see anything of his in person again, but since so much is product design and graphics, they do tend to reproduce well.

3 comments:

I went to the Tate specifically to see the pre-Raphaelite exhibit.. and I also was shocked by The Lady of Shalott... it was one of my favourite paintings, and to see it live.. it was a little like a pilgrimage for me.

And as to Ophelia, it is recorded that Lizzie Siddal (the model) did indeed catch illness from lying in the bath! It was warmed underneath by candles.. but then the candles went out.. oops! hehe. You should read 'Lizzie Siddal: Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite supermodel' it's about the strange life of the poor model.